17 June 2014

It has been reported already that NLEX is not entering the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as an expansion team after all.

The PBA announced on 16 June that the applicant team operated by Metro Pacific Investment Corp. has decided to enter the league by acquiring an existing franchise, which surprised many observers.

"Applicant team Metro Pacific Investment Corp.-NLEX today informed the PBA Office of the Commissioner that it has decided to enter the league by acquiring an existing franchise, in lieu of entering the league as an expansion team," the PBA said in a statement.

Although NLEX's application for an expansion franchise has been approved by the league board, its acquisition of an existing PBA team will still go through a vote by the body.

"So bale, dalawa na lang 'yung tutuloy na expansion. With NLEX, pinili namin to enter the PBA through an acquisition of an existing franchise," he added.

It was not revealed which of the current 10 participating teams in the PBA is involved in the looming buy-out, but the PBA said it already got the assurance from NLEX of its on-going negotiation with the existing franchise.

"They noted that they are in the process of finalizing the acquisition of the current member-ballclub," the league added.

It can be recalled that the newly-crowned DLeague Foundation Cup champion NLEX has asked the league for extension to make up its mind whether to enter as expansion or just buy an existing franchise. The extension was due on 16th June, the day NLEX was supposed to signify its real intent in the league.

As it turned out, NLEX opted to just buy an existing franchise even if it means going through another board approval.

League commissioner Chito Salud said NLEX will update the league as to further developments within a reasonable period after the last game of the targeted member-team in the on-going Governors' Cup.

Subscribe

PBA Advisory

2017 Commissioner's Cup Format

The tournament allows teams to hire foreign players or imports with a height limit of 6-foot-10.

The top 2 teams will earn twice-to-beat edges over Nos. 7 and 8 while the No. 3 against No. 6 and No. 4 versus No. 5 pairing will be a best-of-three affair in the quarterfinals.

The semifinal stage will have a pair of best-of-five matches and the finals will be a race-to-four affair.

Gilas Pilipinas

Manila will host one of the three tournaments in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Philippine national men’s basketball team will try to pull off massive upsets against France, New Zealand, Canada, Turkey and Senegal in the competition slated on July 5 to July 10 at Mall of Asia Arena.

A total of 18 teams will participate in the three-nation event whose champions will book tickets to the 2016 Rio Olympics.